1

Volume 1, Number 1 Summer 2014

WelcometothenewelectroniceditionoftheHistoricBridgeFoundationnewsletter--Historic Bridge Bulletin.Providingrelevantinformationandeducationregardingallaspectsofhistoricbridgeshasalwaysbeenatthecoreofourmission.Earlierthisyear,theBoardjumpedattheopportunitytorestartthe“publication”ofanewsletterusingthelatestelectronictechnology.Wewerefurtherencouragedbytheresponsereceivedwhenwerequestedarticlesforpublication.Wenowhavecommitmentstocompletethefirstthreenewsletters.Weenjoyhearingaboutyourworkwithhistoricbridges.Pleaseconsidersharingyourexperiencesbycontributinganarticleforfuturenewsletters.ClearlyaprojectofthismagnitudedoesnothappenbyitselfandIthankKittyfortheexcellentworkasExecutiveDirectorandNathanasEditorfortheHistoric Bridge Bulletininproducingaqualityproductforyourreviewinrecordtime.

Chicago’s MovableHighway BridgesA Mixed Preservation Commitment

By Nathan Holth

Chicagohasbeensaidtohavemoremovablebridgesthananyothercityintheworld.Manyofthesebridgeshavehistoricsignificance.BasculebridgesdesignedinChicagoinfluencedthethinkinganddesignofbridgesacrossthecountrywhencityengineerspioneeredthecommonuseofthefixedtrunnionbasculebridge.Thefixedtrunniondesignisnotedforitssimplicityaseachleafrotatesaroundasingletrunnion,andthistypealsoworksnicelywhereunstablesoilconditionsexistsincethe

bridgemaintainsthesamecenterofgravityinalloperatingpositions.Today,acrossthecountry,thefixedtrunnionisoneofthetwomostcommontypesofbasculebridge,theothercommontypebeingtheScherzer-stylerollingliftbasculewhichincludeleavesthatrollbackonatrackandhaveavariablecenterofgravityduringoperation.Additionally,manyofChicago’sbasculebridgesarenotablefortheiraestheticdetails,includingsignificantstylessuchasBeaux-ArtsandArtDeco.Visitorstothecityalmostcertainlyseeatleastsomeofthesebridgeswhentheytourthe

Welcome To Our First Digital Newsletter

By Paul Brandenburg, Board President of the Historic Bridge Foundation

Bas-relief sculpture on Chicago’s Ashland Avenue Bridge. Photo by Nathan Holth.

2

downtownarea.Forthemostpart,thehistoricbasculebridgesinthedowntown“Loop”areaofChicagohavebeenmaintainedandrehabilitatedinamannerthatisintendedtoretaintheoriginalappearanceandfunctionofthebridges’historicsignificance. DespitetherebeingeighteenbasculebridgesinthedowntownLooparea,abasculebridgehasnotbeendemolishedheresince1984.Onlytwobridgesinthe

downtownLoopareadatetoafterthe1960s.ProjectsinvolvingthebridgesintheLoopvaryinscopefrompaintingprojectstoheavyrehabilitation.TherehabilitationoftheWellsStreetBridgefrom2012-2013wasveryextensiveandismoreofanexampleofhistoricreplicationratherthanrestoration.Withthisrathercreativeproject,theouterpanelsofeachbasculeleafwereremovedcompletelyandreplacedwithnear-replicas.Thenewsectionsreplicatethe appearance and dimensionsoftheoriginalsectionsinnearlyeveryway,withtheexceptionoffloorbeamdesignanduseofboltsinsteadofrivets.Theprojectwasa challenge to complete becausethebridgeisadouble-deckbridgethatcarriesvehiclesonalowerdeckandChicagoTransitAuthority“L”trainsontop,yettotalclosuresfortrainswerelimitedonlyforacoupleweeksfortheentireprojectduration.Onasimilarnote,projectsinvolvinghistoricbasculebridgesonCermakRoadandKinzieStreetsawmostoftherivetedtrussesreplacedwithboltedreplicas. Insomecases,Chicagohasmadeaparticularefforttoreturnbridgestotheiroriginalglory.ManyofthebridgesintheLoopwereoriginallydesignedwithsubstantialornamentaldetails.Unfortunately,theoriginalornaterailingsonanumberofbridgeswerereplacedyearsagowithutilitarianrailings.Recently,Chicagohas

Original railing detail on Michigan Avenue Bridge. Photo by Nathan Holth.

The Wells Street Bridge shown here in its raised position, before rehabilitation. Photo by Nathan Holth.

3

beenremovingthoserailingsandreplacingthemwithnewrailingsthatreplicatetheoriginalrailingsonthebridges.PerhapsthemostvisibleexampleofthisisinstallationofreplicasidewalkrailingsontheupperdeckofthefamousdoubledeckMichiganAvenueBridge(officiallyrenamedtheDuSableBridge)in2009.TheMichiganAvenueBridgeisnotedforitsfourlargeornamentalbridgetenderhousesthat are located at eachcornerofthebridgeandfeaturebas-reliefsculpturescommemoratingimportant events inChicago’shistory.Carefulobserverswillnote that the railings forthesidewalkonthelowerdeckofthisbridgewerenotreplaced with the ornamental railings. Thishelpstellthestoryofthebridge’shistoryandpreventscreatingafalsesenseofhistory.Asoriginallybuilt,thebridge’slowerdeckdidnothaveasidewalk.Thelowerdecksidewalkswereaddedatalaterdateandwerenotpartoftheoriginaldesign.

Incontrast,thestoryofhistoricbridgepreservationnorthoftheLoopis,withacoupleexceptions,lesspositive.Hereiswhere,formanyyears,theoldestfixedtrunnionbasculebridgesinthecitysurvived.Thefirstfixedtrunnionbasculeeverbuiltinthecity,theCortlandStreetBridge,hasbeenrehabilitatedandpreservedandadditionalworktomaintainthebridge

is planned in the future.Otherwise,thehandfulofsurviving“firstgeneration”fixedtrunnionbasculebridgesarebeingdemolished and replacedoneafteranother.Itappearsthatin the not too distant future,onlyasingleexampleofthecity’sfirstfixedtrunnionbasculebridgedesignwillremain,thatbeing

theCortlandStreetBridge. Particularlyunfortunateisthe2014projecttodemolishandreplacetheDivisionStreetNorthBranchCanalBridge.BuiltonlyafewyearsaftertheCortland

The Historic Bridge Foundation Historic Bridge Collector’s Ornaments

Division Street Bridge over North Branch Chicago River Canal. Photo by Nathan Holth.

4

StreetBridge,thisdoubleleafbasculebridgeisalsoanexampleoftheearliestdesignoffixedtrunnionbridgethatthecitydeveloped,andoneofonlyafewfromthisperiodsurvivingtoday.ThebridgeisalsonotedforitsuniquedecorativeoverheadbracingwhichfeaturescutoutsthatincludeChicago’sMunicipalDevice,whichisa“Y”symbolrepresentingthethreebranchesoftheChicagoRiver.Thiswillnotbethefirstlossinthisarea;thenearbybridgeonHalstedStreetwasdemolishedin2011.Itwasalsoafirstgenerationbascule,andwhileitdidnothavetheornamentaldetailsoftheDivisionStreetBridge,itwasnotedforitssubstantial206footspanlength. AlsoofconcernistheplantodemolishandreplacetheChicagoAvenueBridgeovertheNorthBranchChicagoRiver.TheChicagoAvenueBridgerepresentsthesecondstyleofbasculebridgethatChicagodesignedandusedinthecity.Inthisdesign,theoverheadbracingwaseliminatedformingaponytrussbasculedesign.TheChicagoAvenueBridgewasamongthefirstbridgesinthecitytohaveamoreornamentaldesignofbridgetenderhouse.Thelowerportionsofthebridgetenderhouseswereconstructedofconcrete,detailed to present the appearance ofgranite.Theupperportionsofthebridgetenderhouseswere constructed with wood and coveredwithcoppersheeting.ThebridgewasbuiltonlyahandfulofyearsaftertheadjacentMontgomeryWardCompanyComplexwascompleted,whichisaNationalHistoricLandmarkandhasbeenadaptivelyreused.

Nathan Holth is the author of the website HistoricBridges.org and the book Chicago’s Bridges. In researching and advocating for the preservation of historic bridges over the past decade, he has photographed thousands of historic bridges across North America.

North Clark Street Bridge 85th Anniversary July 10, 2014

By Jim Phillips

“GREATPARADETOOPENSPAN,HAILNEWERA-ClarkBridgetobeReadyJuly10.”That’stheheadlinefromtheChicago Daily TribuneonJune30,1929.TheparadeconsistedoftengroupsdepictingthedevelopmentofClarkStreetfromNativeAmericantrailtomoderncitythoroughfare.OrganizedbytheNorthClarkStreetmerchants,theparadewasacelebrationofthenewbridgeandashowofappreciationtotheChicagoPublicWorksDepartmentforcompletingthebridgesixmonthsaheadofschedule. MovablebridgeshavebeenatthisChicagoRivercrossingsince1840whenafloatingpontoonbridgewas

built.Theswingbridgeerabeganin1856andcontinueduntilthecurrentbasculewasbuilt.TheremovaloftheClarkStreetswingbridgemarkedtheendoftheswingbridgeeraontheMainStemoftheChicagoRiver. ThelastClarkStreetswingbridgewasremovedsoonerthanexpectedwhenthesandsucker(aboatusedtoremovesandfromariveranddeposititonlandforuseasfill)SandmasterknockedthebridgeoffitsturntableonApril30,1929.Enoughdamagewasdonetotheoldbridgethatfixingitmadelittlesensewiththenewbasculeunderconstructionandnearingcompletion.Thedecisionwasmadetoabandon

Clark Street Bridge elevation drawing. Adapted from original engineering drawings provided by CDOT Division of Engineering.

Northwest bridgehouse at the North Clark Street Bridge. Photo by Jim Phillips.

5

theoldbridgeandspeeduptheworkonthenewone.Remarkably,thefirststreetcarscrossedthenewbridgeonly48dayslateronJune17. Withhightail-endcurvaceousponytrussesandBeaux-Arts-styledbridgehouses,thisChicago-typetrunnionbasculebridgehasastrikinganddistinctiveprofile.Thebridgeplaqueprovidestheorganizationsandindividualsinvolvedintheconstructionanddesignofthebridge. PonytrusseswerenotwelllikedbymembersoftheChicagoplancommission.Ina1930ChicagoDailyTribunearticleEugeneTaylormanagingdirectoroftheChicagoplancommissionputitsimply,“Theylooklikethedevil...” Asoftenthecase,siteconstraintstrumpedaestheticdesires.Subsurfaceconditionsdictatedthattrunnionsbeatshallowerdepthsthanthoseonbridgestotheeast.Thismeantmorestructuralsteelshowingabovethebridgedeckhere. ItcouldbearguedtodaythatthisbridgeprovidesvisualrelieffromthesamenessoftherailheighttrussesusedonthebridgesbetweenhereandMichiganAvenue.Thiswasthelastbridgebuiltusingponytrussesinthedowntown area. TheSandmaster had a mishap under the new bridgeduringitsfirsttripdowntheriversincerammingtheswingbridge.Itcollidedwithabargeandthewreckagepreventedthebasculefrombeingloweredintoplace.Theaccidentcausedatwohourdelaybutdidnotdamagethebridge.Afterthisencounter,theSandmasterwastherecordholdingbridge-rammer:45collisionswiththirteenChicagobridgesinthreeyears. Anumberofthingshavehappenedintheeighty-

fiveyearlifeoftheClarkStreetBridge.Probablythemostuniqueeventwastheone-timegatheringoftheClarkStreetBridgePercussionOrchestraonOctober6,2007.Foranafternoonthebridgebecameadrumforsixprofessionaldrummersandhundredsofspectatorsturnedparticipantsinconcert.TheeventwasorganizedbyconceptualartistHughMusikforChicagoArtistsMonth.EricRothcomposedthemusic.ItprovidedadifferentwaytoenjoyandappreciateoneofChicago’siconicbridges. TheClarkStreetBridgeisnowoperatedabout40timeseachyearforseasonalsailboatrunstoandfromLakeMichigan.ItisalwaysamazingtoseetheLoopbridgesoperate. CurrentlythesouthbankoftheriverbetweenStateandLaSallestreetsisundergoingatransformationastheChicagoRiverwalkisextendedwest.AfterthedustclearsnextspringitwillbepossibletowalkundertheClarkStreetBridge.TherearealotofreasonstoliketheRiverwalk,butforabridgeenthusiasttheabilitytowatchabridgeriseaboveyouisaspecialtreat.

(Note:Sourcesinclude:ChicagoDailyTribune5/2/1929;5/9/1929;5/17/1929;6/30/1929;7/11/1929;12/15/1929;9/13/1930;10/14/2007(ProQuestHistoricalNewspapersChicagoTribune(1849-2007);“TwoMilesEighteenBridges–AwalkalongtheChicagoRiver.”)

Jim Phillips is a retired civil engineer whose interest and appreciation of Chicago’s downtown movable bridges led to the creation of chicagoloopbridges.com. Jim lives in Chicago where he leads walking tours about the engineering, architectural, and cultural significance of these beauties.

The North Clark Street Bridge – looking east on the Chicago River. Photo by Jim Phillips.

6

Glimmer Glass BridgeBy Fran and Jack Drew

TheGlimmerGlassBridgewasbuiltaround1898andthe34-footdrawbridgemechanismwasinstalledin1938.Theuniquerollingcounterweightdesign,whichoriginatedin19thCenturyFrance,featuresadrawbridgeliftedbyapairofcablesconnectedtoacounterweightthatrunsalonganellipticaltrack. Anelectricmotormountedatoptheupstreamtowercolumnbraceturnssheaveswhichcausethecounterweightstostartmovingdownthetrackandliftsthespan.Themotorreversestheactiontoclosethebridge.Becauseofitsuniquedesign,therollingcounterweightsexactlybalancetheweightofthespanin

allpositions,thusminimizingthepowerofthemotor.Theoperator’shouse,likemanyelementsofthebridge,hasbeenupgradedovertheyears,butitsfunctionandprofileare original. Thetwo-lanebridge,withsinglesidewalk,spanstheGlimmerGlass,anavigabletidalinletoftheManasquanRiver.Thebridgeislocatedinasaltmarshsurroundedbyaseasonalcommunityofsmallcottagesandsomeyear-roundhouses.Itistheonlyfunctionalexampleofthislate19thCenturybridgetypeintheUnitedStatestoday.TheGlimmerGlassBridgestilloperatesinitsoriginal manner. NooriginalrecordsorplansareavailablefortheGlimmerGlassBridgespan,althoughplansforthebasculesectiondatebackto1922.Thebridgewasrebuiltseveraltimes.Thewoodtowercolumnandtrackwererehabilitatedin1957and1971andthesteelgriddeck

onthec.1950deckgirdermovablespanwasinstalledin1962.Thesignificanceofthestructureisderivedfromthefactthatitmaintainsitsintegrityoforiginaldesign. TheGlimmerGlassBridgewasenteredontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesonApril25,2008.OnFebruary28,2008,theGlimmerGlassBridgewasplacedontheNewJerseyRegisterofHistoricPlacesasaresourceof“nationalsignificance,”pertheNewJerseyStateHistoricPreservationOffice.Thecriteriaforitslistingareboththeuniquetechnologyandthescaleofthebridgeinitsspecialsetting. In2005agroupofarearesidentssoughttosavethebridgefromdemolitionandformedthe“SavetheGlimmerGlassBridgeCommittee”toraiseawarenessandtoraisefundstohireprofessionalstocompletethenecessarypaperworkfornominationtotheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.CoordinatedbyEloiseKnight,aManasquanresident,thousandsofdollarswereraisedandthegroupfocusedonplacingthebridgeontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces. TheCommitteehasalsoissuedcalendars,postcardsandajigsawpuzzlefeaturingtheBridgeaspartof

The cable lift rolling counterweight system is based on the 19th century design by Frenchman Bernard Forest de Bélidor. Photo by Judi Benvenuti.

The bridge continues to operate with the integrity and ingenuity of its 19th century technology. Photo by Judi Benvenuti.

Simply brilliant. The rolling counterweight design dates back to French bridge engineering. Photo by Judi Benvenuti.

7

theefforttoeducationthepublicandsecuretheirsupport.AslocalartistLindaHejduksaid“Keepingthisdrawbridgeisourwaytoholdhandswithhistory.” Thecountyengineershaveproposedtoreplacethebridgewithoneofthesamedesignbut50%widerandhighertomeetFederalHighwaystandardsforroadwidth.This,ofcourse,wouldremovethebridgefromthehistoricregistersanddestroytheidyllicmarshlandhabitat. ItisthepositionoftheCommitteethatrehabilitationofthebridgeshouldmaintaintheintegrityofthebridge’sdesignandmaterialssoastoretainitslistingontheNationalandStateHistoricregisters.Todate,over1,700peoplehavesignedapetitioninsupportoftheGlimmerGlassBridge.ManysignersareManasquanresidents;however,peoplefromallovertheUSAwant

Case Study: Fairview-Snodgrass Road Bridge

Bridge after relocation and rehabilitation. Photo by Nathan Holth.

Bridge before rehabilitation. Photo by Nathan Holth.

As local artist Linda Hejduk said “Keeping this drawbridge is our way to hold hands with history.” Artwork by Linda Hejduk.

8

toseethisbridgesaved:NewYork,Pennsylvania,NorthCarolina,Connecticut,Florida,Arizona,Maine,Vermont,Utah,Georgia,Maryland,Texas,California,SouthCarolina,NewMexico,Virginia,Oregon,NewHampshire,Ohio.

Fran and Jack Drew, a retired chemist and engineer, are ardent members of Save the Glimmer Glass Bridge Committee. Both are long-time supporters of historic preservation. They continue to encourage the county engineers to save the iconic Glimmer Glass Bridge.

The Prowse Memorial BridgeBy James Garvin

Anaward-winningbridge,hailedatitscompletionasthefirstweldedsteelrigidframeoverpassontheinterstatehighwayorprimaryroadsystemsintheUnitedStates,isdestinedforremovalduringthewideningofI-93inLondonderry,NewHampshire.Completedin1962anddesignedbyRobertJ.ProwseoftheNewHampshireDepartmentofPublicWorksandHighways,thebridgewasdedicatedasamemorialtoProwseafterhisdeathin1969atagesixty-three.Ifthebridgecannotberelocated,itmaybedemolished. TheProwseMemorialBridgetracesitsorigintoeffortsbytheJamesF.LincolnArcWeldingFoundationofClevelandtopromotethefabricationofsteelhighwaybridgesthrough welding ratherthantraditionalriveting.Beginningin1938,theLincolnFoundationannounced a series ofconteststhatchallengedengineerstosubmitdesignsthatwoulddemonstratethefeasibilityofweldedfabricationofsteelbridgesofinnovativedesign.EngineerProwsewonanhonorablementioninaLincolnArcWeldingFoundationcontestof1958forhisdesignofaweldedcontinuousdeckplategirderbridge. In1958,AmericanBridge,adivisionofUnitedStatesSteel,announcedasimilarcompetition“dedicatedtothestimulationofamoreimaginativeandeffectiveuseofsteelinthedesignofhighwayoverpassestypicalofthe

thousandsofsuchstructuresthatmustbedesignedandbuiltalongthe41,000mileInterstateandDefenseHighwayby1972.”Thecompetitionwasopenedtoallprofessionaland design engineers and college engineering students throughouttheworld.Theproblemtobesolvedwasthedesignofasteeloverpassstructuretocarryatwo-lanehighwayoverafour-laneinterstatehighwayinaccordancewiththen-currentAASHOstandards. Some300entrantssubmitteddesigns.AmongtheentrieswasadesignbyProwseforaweldedsteelrigidframeoverpasswithfreestandingverticallegs.Through

cuttingandwelding,flaredshouldersoneach steel leg merged seamlesslywiththehorizontalspansinaseriesofgracefullycurvedspandrels,allowing the legs toresistbendingstresses imparted byloadingonthehorizontalspansandto transmit those

stressesdowntohingesatthebottomsofthelegs.There,thestresseswouldberesolvedintoforcesbornebyheavy,buriedfootings. Theproposeddesignwouldspanallfourlanesoftheinterstatehighwayandthemedianwithoutacentralpier,“providingastructurelesshazardous,havingamorepleasingappearance,andwithoutmateriallyincreasingtheover-allcost.”Again,RobertJ.Prowsewasawardedanhonorablementionandaprizeof$1,000. Prowse’saward-winningdesignof1959might

Elevation of Prowse Memorial Bridge. Photo by James Garvin.

Detail of the Prowse Memorial Bridge. Photo by James Garvin.

9

haveremainedanabstractconceptifanextensionoftheinterstatehighwaysystemwerenotbeingplannedforcentralNewHampshireatthatverytime.TheNewHampshireDepartmentofPublicWorksandHighwayssawanopportunitytotransformProwse’sinnovativedesign into an overpass that would meet an actual need oftheinterstatesysteminNewHampshireundertheclassificationofan“ExperimentalProject.”Thebridgewascompletedatacostofabout$183,000.In1964,theAmericanInstituteofSteelDesign(AISC)presentedthebridgewithanawardforitsoutstandingaestheticdesign. Indesigningthebridge,RobertProwseusedbothmathematicalcalculationsandtestsonaphysicalmodel.

Asarigidframe,thebridgeisstaticallyindeterminateandnotsubjecttostructuralanalysisbytraditionalformulas.Afterapplyingmorecomplexcomputationstothedesign,Prowseconcludedthat“becauseoftheunusualshapeandsizeofthestructure,itwasfeltthatitwouldbedesirableifsomesimpleformofcheckcouldbemadeofthedesigncalculations.”Toverifyhiscalculations,Prowseusedadevicethathadbeendevelopedinthe1920sbyProfessorGeorgeE.BeggsofPrincetonUniversity.Beggsdiscoveredthatmicroscopicdeflectionsinacardboard,celluloid,orPlexiglasmodelofabridgecomponentareproportionatetotheinternalstressesinthemodel.Themethodmakesuseofaninstrumentcalledadeformeterandamicrometermicroscopetomeasurethetinydeflectionsofthe model. Recognizingthe“exceptionalsignificance”oftheProwseMemorialBridgein2006,authoritiesdeclaredthespanoneoftworesourcesonNewHampshire’sinterstatehighwaysystemthatissubjecttoformal

“Section106”and“4(f)”reviewsifthreatened.(OrdinaryinterstatecomponentshavebeenexemptedfromsuchreviewthroughouttheUnitedStates.)Amemorandumofagreement,nowineffect,requiresthattheNewHampshireDepartmentofTransportationshallmakeaconcertedefforttofindanadaptivereuseforthebridgeandmovethebridgetoanewlocation.IfNHDOTdoesnotidentifyafeasiblere-use,thebridgewillbemarketedinaccordancewithwidely-usedbutseldomeffectivestandardproceduresdefinedunderthefederaltransportationactof1987.Ifsuchamarketingeffortfailstoprovideanewowner,locationanduseforthebridge,thestructurewillpresumablybedemolished. AmonographdetailingRobertJ.Prowse’sinnovativeengineeringworkcanbefoundat:http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/prowse.htm.

James L. Garvin was the State Architectural Historian at the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources from 1978-2011. His specialties include history of American architecture, history of engineering, geographical history, building investigation, and traditional methods and materials of construction.

Zenas King and the Bridges of New York CityPart I

By Allan King Sloan

By1890,NewYorkCityhadbecometheundisputedbusinessandcommercialcapitaloftheUSAanditsmostimportantinternationalport.Itspopulationhadgrowntoover1.5million,mostlylivingonManhattanIslandwhichhadgrownsteadilynorthwardfromtheoriginalsettlementonthetiptowhatisnowHarlem.CentralParkhadbeendevelopedastheCity’smain

amenityanditsborderswereattractingtheopulenttownhousesofbuddingAmericancapitalists.ThefiveboroughscomprisingtheCityasweknowittodayhadnotbeenconsolidatedintoaunifiedmunicipalgovernment–allwereseparatecountiesofNewYorkState.TheworldfamousBrooklynBridgehadbeencompletedin1883,connectingLowerManhattantoBrooklynZenas King.

Bearings of the Prowse Memorial Bridge. Photo by James Garvin.

10

whichwasalsodevelopingatarapidrate.ThedecadeoftheNinetieswastowitnessthetremendousinfluxofimmigrationmainlyfromEuropethatwouldincreasethepopulationto3.45millionbytheturnofthecentury.Theneedsformajortransportationinfrastructure,streets,highways,bridges,localtransit,railroadsandthelike,weregrowingrapidly. TheKingBridgeCompanyofClevelandfoundedbyZenasKingin1858hadbecomeoneofthemostimportantbuildersofironandsteelbridgesinthecountry,withasolidreputationandrespectfromitsmultitudeofcompetitors.ThefactoryinClevelandwasabletoproducecomponentsforavarietyoffixedandmovablebridges,andhadsuccessfullycompletedlargecantileverbridgesinCincinnati,PennsylvaniaandOregon,andevenasuspensionbridgeinSt.Louis,alongwithanumberofhighwayandrailroadtrestlesandthroughtrussesspanningmajorrivers.ZenasKingwasinhisearlyseventiesandhad

structuredafamily-ownedandoperatedcompany,intowhichhissonswereputintomanagementpositionsatanearlyage.WhileZenasandhissonsdidnotreceiveanyformaltrainingascivilengineers,thecompanyhiredasuccessionofoutstandingengineersincludingFrankOsbornandAlbertPorter,amongothers,whowentontocreate their own companies later in their careers. Zenas wasaself-mademanofambition,energyandforesightandmusthavebeenwellawareofhisClevelandneighbors(likeJ.D.Rockefeller)establishingthemselvesinNewYorktocontinuetheircompany’sgrowth.HemusthaveseentheopportunityNewYorkCityaffordedforhisbusiness,soheproceededtodevelopanaudaciousplanforhisentryintothisboomingmarketforbridges.TheKingBridgeCompanyhadestablishedanofficeat18Broadwayin

LowerManhattanin1889underthemanagementofHenryG.Gladstone. OnFebruary6,1892,thefirstpageoftheNew York Timescarriedthefollowingheadline:

MORE BIG BRIDGE SCHEMESTHE OBJECT IS TO CONNECT HARLEM WITH LONG ISLAND CITY.THE ENTERPRISE IS BACKED BY THE KING BRIDGE COMPANY OF

CLEVELAND WITH PLENTY OF MONEY

ThearticlethenwentontodescribetheprovisionsofthebillwhichwasintroducedtotheStateSenateinAlbanybySenatorFloyd-JoneswhichsoughttoincorporatetheManhattanandLongIslandBridgeCompany.TheincorporatorslistedinthebillincludedZenasKing,PresidentoftheKingBridgeCompany,alongwithhissonsJamesA.andH.W.King,CompanySecretaryHarleyGibbs,andHenryGladstone,ManageroftheNewYorkoffice.Theothersincluded:

• DanielP.Eells,theClevelandbankerandpartowneroftheNickelPlateRailroad,whohadbeenontheBoardofDirectorsoftheKingBridgeCompanyfromthebeginning.

• DanielMagoneofOgdensburg(nearZenas’schildhoodhome),ex-CollectorofthePortofNewYork

• JohnE.VanOstrand• J.J.Moreland,anironmanufacturerofChatham,New

York• CharlesA.Otis,PresidentoftheOtisSteelCompanyof

Cleveland• CharlesF.Stowell,consultingengineer,oftheRailroad

Commissioner’sOffice• JohnJ.Donovan,aNewYorkcontractor

ThefirstbridgelistedinthebillwastocrosstheEastRiverfromLongIslandCitynearFlushingAvenuetoMid-townManhattansomewherebetween41stand59thStreets,traversingthelowerendofwhatisnowRooseveltIsland(thenBlackwellIsland).ThisisbasicallythelocationoftheQueensboro(Koch)Bridgebuiltsome16yearslater.Thesecondbridge,ormoreaccuratelyseriesofbridgesandcauseways,wastoconnectwhatisnowAstoriainQueenstoEastHarleminManhattanandMorrisianiaintheBronxacrosstheEastandHarlemRivers,traversingWardsandRandallsIslands.ThisisbasicallythefunctionoftheTriborough(RobertF.Kennedy)Bridgebuiltinthe1930s. TheTimesarticledescribedZenasKingas“awell-knowncapitalistofCleveland”whohad“thisschemeunderconsiderationforalongtimeandissaidtobewellabletocarryitthroughwithoutdrawingonanybody’sbankaccountbesideshisown.”Themoneydescribedin

St. Clair Street (Bridge Street) Bridge over Kentucky River, Frankfort, Kentucky. This bridge was built in 1893 by the King Bridge Company and remains standing today.

11

theTimesarticlewas$1millionincapitalstockownedbythebridgecompanywhichcouldbeexpandedto$15millionthroughactionbythestockholders.Itwastobeamoney-makingoperationwithrevenuesprovidedbytollsfrom“wagonsandpedestrians”andeventuallytherailroadsthatwereexpectedtousethefacilities.Thebillalsoprovidedforlandacquisitionbythecompanyandanexemptionfromtaxationforfiveyears. Atthisperiodofthecountry’shistory,privateentrepreneurs,includingbridgebuilders,wereoftenprovidersofmajortransportationinfrastructureincludingturnpikes,rivercrossings(ferries)andrailroadswherefeesandtollswerechargedfortrafficusage.Thiswastochangeinlaterdecadesasstateandlocalgovernmentstookoverresponsibilityfortransportationfacilitiesandcreatedpublicauthoritieswhichnowcontrolmuchofthemajortransportationinfrastructure,particularlyintheNewYorkregion.ButwhenZenasKingdevelopedthisgrandplan,privatecompanieswerestillinthebusiness–the“dot-com”entrepreneursofthelate19thcentury. TheKingBridgeCompanyhadhadatleasttwomajorbridgeengineeringsuccessesintheyearsjustpriortothe“GrandScheme”whichmusthaveengenderedconfidencethatthisambitiousplancouldbepulledoff.ThefirstwastheCentralBridgeacrosstheOhioRiverconnectingCincinnatiwithNewportKentucky.Ithadatotallengthofoverahalfamileandfeaturedacentercantileverspanof520feet,whichwasthesecondlongestcantileverspaninNorthAmericaatthetimeofitscompletion.AlbertPorterwasamajorparticipantinthedesignoftheapproachesandFrankOsborn,thecompany’schiefEngineer,designedthecantileversection.Thisprojectwas so important to the companythatasketchofitwasincorporatedintotheKingBridgeCompany’smasthead.Itwasfeaturedinengineering journals oftheday,includingalengthyarticleinthe“TransactionsoftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers”in1892. ThesecondwastheCentralViaductinCleveland,aseriesofstructurestotalingover3,900feetcrossingthebroadvalleyoftheCuyahogaRiverconnectingtheeastandwestsidesofthecity.Theconstructionofthe

bridgerequiredinnovativemethodsandtechniques.Itconsistedofaseriesofirondecktrussesofvaryinglengthssupportedonirontowersofvaryingheights,withacentralmovablespanovertheriverthathadtobeconstructedwithoutinterferingwithrivertraffic.Thecentralspanwasconstructedbybuildingcantileversectionsoutfromthetopofamasonrypierwithouttheuseoffalsework.TheengineeringjournalsofthetimefeaturedanumberofarticlesabouttheconstructionmethodsusedandtheKingBridgeCompanycataloguesofthe1890sdevotedfourpagestothestructure.ThecompletionoftheCentralViaductwasacauseforciviccelebration.ItwasopenedwithgreatfanfareinDecemberof1888andfeaturedaparadeofsoldiersandciviliansmarchingtothecenterofthestructuretohearspeechesbyvariousdignitaries,includingZenasKing.ThiswasfollowedbyagrandbanquetattheHollendenHotel,withmessagesofcongratulationsfromJohnD.Rockefeller,aformerEuclidAvenueneighborofZenasKing,andPresidentGroverCleveland. Withthisbackgroundandrecognition,ZenasandhisengineerswereprobablyquiteconfidentthattheycoulddesignandbuildtheproposedbridgestoconnectManhattanandLongIslandacrosstheEastRiverandassociatedwaterways.AbridgesimilartotheCincinnaticantilever(whichwasjustupstreamoftheRoeblingSuspensionBridgewhichpredatedtheBrooklynBridge)maybewhatZenashadinmindforthisfirstbridge.MultiplestructuresliketheCentralViaductmighthavebeenthemodelinmindforthesecondbridgeacrosstheEastandHarlemRiverstraversingmanyislands. Butthisambitiousandfar-sightedplanwasnotto

be.ZenasKingdiedonOctober25,1892andwith him this grand scheme. His sons who tookoverthebusiness,bothwellestablishedinthesocialandbusinesslifeofCleveland,didnot seem inclined to pursue this major businessventureinNewYork.However,theKingBridgeCompanydidcontinuetodoimportantbusinessintheCityandbuiltsomenotablehighwayandrailroadfacilitiesinthe

1890sandbeyond. WhatinspiredZenasKingnotonlytodevelopthisgrandschemebuttocarryitforwardenoughsothatithad

The Central Bridge. This bridge was demolished and replaced in 1992.

12

reachedtheNewYorkStateLegislature?Wasitthedesiretomovehiscompanytothetoptierofthebridgebuildingindustry?WasitavisionofwhatNewYorkneededinthewayofinfrastructure?WasittokeepupwiththeotherbridgebuilderswhohaddevelopedothergrandschemesforNewYork?WasitadesiretomatchtheRoeblingsandotherlargeandfamousbridgebuildersinnotoriety?Washeinterestedinjustmakingalotmoremoney?Wewillneverknowtheanswerstothesequestions,butseeingtheenergyandambitionthatmarkedhiscareerpath,itwasprobableacombinationofallthesefactors. However,theKingBridgeCompany,undertheleadershipfirstofJamesA.King,andlaterhisbrotherHarryW.King,hadanumberofotherpressingissuestodealwithafterZenas’sdeath.OneofthemostimportantissueswasmappingaresponsetotheeffortsoffinancierJ.P.MorganandsteelbaronAndrewCarnegietoconsolidatethebridgebuildingindustrybypurchasingtheplethoraofindependent companies under thebanneroftheAmericanBridgeCompany.By1900AmericanBridgehad succeeded in acquiring29ofthenation’smajorbridgebuildersincludingmanyofthemajorcompetitorsoftheKingBridgeCompany.Whileapparentlyapproachedtojoin,theKingsfamouslydecidedtoremainindependent.Inaddition,therewastheloomingproblemofdealingwiththeanti-trustsentimentgrowinginthecountrywhichtargetedthe“bridgetrust”createdbyZenasKingandothermostlyOhiobasedbuildersforlegalactionsincludingpricefixingandmarketmanipulation.AlawsuitbroughtbytheStateofOhioagainstKingandeightotherbridgecompanies(someofwhomhadbeenacquiredbyAmericanBridge)resultedintheKingBridgeCompany’slosingitsOhiofranchisein1906.Tocontinueinbusiness,ithadtobereincorporatedinNewJersey. ItwouldbesomeyearsinthefuturethatthegreatbridgesenvisionedbyZenasKingandfriendswouldactuallybebuilt.TheGreaterCityofNewYorkwascreatedin1897bycombiningthefiveadjacentcountiesintothefiveboroughsweknowtoday,makingthelargestmunicipalgovernmentinthenation.Thisenabledthecreationofapowerfulcentralauthorityabletoplanandcarryoutmajor

infrastructureprograms,includinghighways,bridges,publictransitfacilitiesandothers.ADepartmentofBridgeswascreatedintheearly1900sundertheleadershipofGustavLindenthal,aCzechborncivilengineerwhohadonceworkedfortheKeystoneBridgeCompany,arivaloftheKingBridgeCompany,andwasaconsultantforbridgesbuiltinPittsburghandelsewhere,andhehadcreatedhisownbridgecompany(theNorthRiverBridgeCompany).Underhisdirection,plansweremadeforthebuildingoftheQueensboroBridgewhichwascompletedin1909,some17yearsafterZenashadlaunchedhisgrandscheme.ItnowcarriesthehighestvolumeofdailytrafficofanyoftheCity’sbridges. Itwasnotuntil1916thatCityengineersbegantoseriouslyconsiderwhatisnowtheTriborough(RobertF.Kennedy)Bridge.Itsseriousplanninganddesignwasnotundertakenuntil1925andconstructionstartedin1929withreviseddesignsproducedbywell-knownbridge

designer,OthmarAmmann.Withthegreat depression underway,thebridgewas not completed untilitwasfundedunderNewDealgrants,directedbyconstructionmaven,RobertMoses,andopenedfortrafficin1936,some42yearsafterthedeathofZenasKing. Notes:SeriousproposalsforabridgelinkingManhattantoLong

IslandCitywerefirstmadeasearlyas1838andattemptstofinancesuchabridgeweremadebyaprivatecompanybeginningin1867.Itseffortsnevercametofruitionandthecompanywentbankruptinthe1890s.Successfulplansfinallycameaboutin1903underthecity’snewDepartmentofBridges,ledbyGustavLindenthal(whowasappointedtothenewpositionofCommissionerofBridgesin1902),incollaborationwithLeffertL.BuckandHenryHornbostel.PlansforconnectingManhattan,QueensandtheBronxwerefirstannouncedbyEdwardA.Byrne,chiefengineeroftheNewYorkCityDepartmentofPlantandStructures,in1916.Whileitsconstructionhadlongbeenrecommendedbylocalofficials,theTriboroughBridgedidnotreceiveanyfundinguntil1925,whenthecityappropriatedfundsforsurveys,testboringsandstructuralplans.(Source:Wikipedia)

Allan King Sloan is the great grandson of Zenas King, founder of the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Allan King Sloan Family Fund is a donor-directed charitable gift fund set up by the descendants of the Zenas King. It was established in 2000 to provide funds to various nonprofit organizations involved in documenting and preserving historic bridges.

The Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge and officially named the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.

13

Upcoming ConferencesA Monumental Task: Managing & Preserving Architectural RecordsLocation:BuffaloNYDate:July17,2014Summary:Speakersatthisconferencewilladdressthemanyaspectsofcaringforarchitecturalrecordcollections.Participantswilllearnaboutthesignificanceofarchitecturalrecords;thearrayofmaterialsandmethodsusedtocreatethem;collectingpolicies;accessanduserecommendations;preventivepreservationmeasures;reformattingandmanagementofelectronicfiles.Website:http://www.cvent.com/events/a-monumental-task-managing-and-preserving-architectural-records/event-summary-76a97c2ea66d48eea1eb56859117d20a.aspx

Advanced Section 106 SeminarLocation:WashingtonDCDate:July22,2014Summary:TheseminarfocusesontheeffectivemanagementofcomplexorcontroversialundertakingsthatrequirecompliancewithSection106oftheNational

HistoricPreservationAct.Website:http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationNewsEvents/NewsEventsDetail.aspx?id=3803

Section 106 Essentials TrainingLocation:AlbuquerqueNMDate:August19-20,2014Summary:Thistwo-daycourseisdesignedforthosewhoarenewtofederalhistoricpreservationcomplianceorthosewhowantarefresherontheSection106regulations.Website:http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationNewsEvents/NewsEventsDetail.aspx?id=3796

Advanced Section 106 SeminarLocation:AlbuquerqueNMDate:August21,2014Summary:TheseminarfocusesontheeffectivemanagementofcomplexorcontroversialundertakingsthatrequirecompliancewithSection106oftheNationalHistoricPreservationAct.Website:http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationNewsEvents/NewsEventsDetail.aspx?id=3804

The King Bridge Company’s Central Bridge in its later years. Photo by Dave Michaels.

14

Section 106 Essentials TrainingLocation:WashingtonDCDate:September9-10,2014Summary:Thistwo-daycourseisdesignedforthosewhoarenewtofederalhistoricpreservationcomplianceorthosewhowantarefresherontheSection106regulations.Website:http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationNewsEvents/NewsEventsDetail.aspx?id=3797

Section 106 Essentials TrainingLocation:OaklandCADate:September16-17,2014Summary:Thistwo-daycourseisdesignedforthosewhoarenewtofederalhistoricpreservationcomplianceorthosewhowantarefresherontheSection106regulations.Website:http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationNewsEvents/NewsEventsDetail.aspx?id=3798 2014 Statewide Historic Preservation ConferenceLocation:HuntingtonWVDate:September25-27,2014Summary:PreserveWestVirginiawillbehostingits2014StatewideHistoricPreservationConferenceinHuntington,WV.Thisyear’sconferencethemeis“FromtheGroundUp:Archaeology,BrownfieldRe-use,&HistoricPreservation”.Website:http://preservationallliancewv.wordpress.com/events/

2014 Conference on Illinois HistoryLocation:SpringfieldILDate:September25-26,2014Summary:Theconferenceincludes20papersessionsthatfeaturetopicssuchaspolitics,AbrahamLincoln,Route66,archaeology,andtheCivilWar;onefilm;eightworkshops;and three panel discussions.Website:http://www.illinois.gov/ihpa/Involved/Pages/Conference.aspx

Preserving the Historic Road 2014Location:SavannahGADate:September26-28,2014Summary:The2014PreservingtheHistoricRoadConference,partneredwiththeNationalScenicBywaysFoundation,willprovideadiverseandcomprehensiveconferenceprogram,whichwillincludeenlighteningeducationalsessions,andinformativemobileworkshopstouniquesites(featuringsomegreatshrimp,gritsandbarbeque).Thecombinationoftheseeventswillletyouexperiencesouthernroadculture,historyandlocalissuesthattieintothenational,andglobal,perspectiveofhistoricroadidentificationandprotection.Website:http://www.historicroads.org/

Ironton-Russell Bridge over the Ohio River. A project to replace and then demolish this historic cantilever truss bridge is underway. The 1922 bridge is one of the oldest highway bridges on the Ohio River. Photo by Nathan Holth.

15

Festival of RiverboatsLocation:LouisvilleKYDate:October18,2014Summary:CelebrateAmerica’srichSouthernheritagewithacruiseonthemightyOhioRiverduringLouisville’sCentennialFestivalofRiverboats.InOctober2014,ninehistoricriverboatswillprovidethebackdropasLouisvilleplayshosttoasix-dayfestivaloffood,bourbon,musicandartattheinternationally-acclaimedWaterfrontPark.LouisvilleisalsonotedforitshistoricbridgeswhichcrosstheOhioRiver.Website:http://festivalofriverboats.com/

Society for Industrial Archaeology Fall Tour 2014Location:SouthernIndianaDate:October5-8,2014Summary:Thebaseforthisyear’stourwillbetheCliftyInnlocatedinCliftyFallsStateParkaboutfivemileswestofMadison.TheFallTour’sSundayafternoonopeningscheduleincludesatourofdowntownMadison,withits130-blockNationalHistoricLandmarkDistrictwhichisoneofthebestpreservedandthelargestofitskindintheU.S.ThetouralsooffersopportunitiestovisitsitesinColumbusandSeymour,forCumminsDieselandSeymourManufacturing,thelatterafirmthathasbeenmakinglawnandgardentoolssincethe1870s.Columbusfeaturesworld-recognizedarchitecture.Plansarealsounderwayforafull-dayuprivertourwhichmayexploremoreof

southeasternIndianaincludingatriple-intersectionPratttrussbridgeoverLaugheryCreekandotherhistoricandactiveindustrialsitesalongtheriver.Website:http://www.sia-web.org/fall-tour-2014-south-east-indiana/

Past Forward: The National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference Location:SavannahGeorgiaDate:November10-14,2014Summary:Thepremiereducationalandnetworkingeventforthosewhoarecommittedtosavingplaces.PastForwardfeaturesin-depthLearningLabs,onthegroundexplorationthroughFieldStudies,IntensiveWorkshopsandlivedemonstrations,filmsandexhibitsinthePreservationStudio.PastForward,engagesnewaudiencesinSavannahandvirtuallywithTrustLive,live-streamingmarqueepresentationsthatexplorepreservationthroughnewlensesincludingclimatechange,realestate,datamapping,and new audiences.Website:http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc/

The Triple Whipple Bridge over Laughery Creek, Indiana. This is the only triple intersection Pratt truss bridge known to survive today. Photo by Nathan Holth.

The Big Four Bridge in Louisville, KY is a historic former railroad bridge that has been reused as an iconic pedestrian bridge. Photo by Mike Miley, CC BY-SA 2.0, flickr.com/photos/mike_miley/